It’s a huge accomplishment for anyone to earn a berth to the CIF State Track and Field Championships.

Yreka High senior Jena Turner has achieved this feat for a remarkable four straight years.

Today, Turner is set to take part in State in Clovis, California, in the 100-meter hurdles.

During her freshman year, she earned a state berth in the 300-meter hurdles and got a spot in the 100-meter hurdles her sophomore year. As a junior, she earned a berth in both events.

California is considered one of the best – if not best – state in the country for high school track and field, with many athletes moving on and achieving success at the college and Olympic level, which makes the competition in every event fierce. Unlike some sports, all schools regardless of size compete against one another, which adds to the challenge.

Turner said that no matter what happens, “I’m just going to enjoy the experience. Honestly, I just want to use the competition at State to push me to PR (personal record). The competition down there is incredible. This will be my last track meet of my high school career and the last time to break the school record in the hurdles.”

Doug Harper coaches the hurdlers at Yreka High and has worked with Turner since she was a middle school student. He said he has been impressed with her dedication to become an elite hurdler.

"She’s been competing at a really high level,” Harper said. “She’s really been honing her technique. I expect her to run a really good time.”

To get to State, she earned a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at the Northern Section Championships at West Valley High in Cottonwood last Friday. She also took first in the high jump. Turner decided not to compete in the high jump to give another girl a chance to compete at State and to let her focus on the hurdles.

Turner also medaled by taking second in the 300-meter hurdles. While she set a school record which was the second fastest time ever ran in the Northern Section, Kristina Freitas of West Valley edged her out to become the all-time NSCIF leader in the 300-meter hurdles.

Turner is moving on to college this fall and recently earned a scholarship to compete in track and field at Chico State University.

What makes Turner such a special athlete is that she has good technique, is highly coachable and has good speed and balance, which is needed for the hurdle events, Harper said.

“It’s been an honor to coach her,” he said.

Turner said that Harper has been a huge help to her to becom

Page 2 of 2 - e such a proficient hurdler. “Coach Harper is honest, trustworthy and makes you work hard,” she said. “I’ve never doubted Harper with his coaching advice. He knows exactly what I’m capable of, and he helps me not just reach that potential but exceed it. He’s always on my side and supportive of me on and off the track.”

She added that she has worked hard at practices to make sure she performs at her highest level on race days.

“I never stop doing a drill or hurdle run through until I feel like I’ve improved or given my all,” she said.

Another person who has been a great influence on her is her best friend and fellow hurdler Ashley Ensminger, Turner said. ”She has pushed me to work hard,” Turner said. She added it was great to have Ensminger compete against her on race days. “It’s never been given to me,” Turner said. “She makes me work for it.”

Turner thanked all her coaches, including head track coach Orlyn Culp for all their help and support over the years and being there for her both on and off the track.

“I feel so close to them all,” she said. “It has been an amazing experience competing for Yreka High the past four years,” Turner said. “It’s been such an honor and privilege to be able to represent my community and section for the last four years,” she said. “I am so blessed to live in such a loving community.”

Earning a state berth all four years at YHS “makes me feel like I have accomplished something amazing and I feel like I’ve made my mark at YHS and I feel I have inspired future track athletes at YHS and given them something to strive for,” Turner added.